Students: State support for higher ed back to 1980s level

It’s back to the future for the state’s higher education system, and not in a good way, student representatives told lawmakers on Friday.

Facing a $4.6 billion operating budget deficit, Gov. Chris Gregoire has proposed more big cuts to colleges and universities. Testifying before the Senate Higher Education Committee, Quinn Majeski of the Associated Students of the University of Washington said if the reductions are approved state support for Washington’s six four-year schools will basically be the same as it was more than 20 years ago.

“When we neglect to invest in our higher education system, it’s not just detrimental to our long-term future but to our immediate economic growth,” Majeski said.

In the 1987-89 biennium, the state contributed $1.08 billion to UW, WSU, WWU, CWU, EWU and Evergreen State. Gregoire’s proposed budget for 2011-13 would allocate $1.04 billion to the schools, Majeski said, citing figures from the state budget analysts.

“State support would be the same level as the year I was born,” Majeski said.

Tuition has been going up significantly at the schools, and student and faculty representatives warned lawmakers that trend would continue, putting a college education out of reach for many. Gregoire wants to give the schools more flexibility to set tuition, something the schools have been clamoring for and a recommendation made by a gubernatorial task force.

Gregoire, in exchange for allowing the schools more freedom to hike tuition, said she’d ask for more accountability and try to create a statewide scholarship program – to be funded by individuals and businesses – to help poor and middle income students attend school, even though it will cost more. The gubernatorial panel said the goal would be to raise a $1 billion endowment.